Weft yarn anchoring arrangement for needle looms



March 25, 1969 J. MULLER 3,434,506

WEFT YARN ANCHORING ARRANGEMENT FOR NEEDLE LOOMS Filed Nov. 21. 1966 Sheet of 2 INVENTOR i MAM BY (Mn/4.2,,

ATTORNEY March 25, 1969 UL 3,434,506

WEFT YARN ANCHORING ARRANGEMENT FOR NEEDLE LOOMS Filed NOV. 21, 1966 Sheet 2 012 ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 139-424 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A weft inserting member is reciprocated through the warp sheds of a fabric woven on a needle loom, and places the weft thread by a dipping or turning motion into the open hook of a latch needle reciprocating in the warp direction so that a loop is formed which anchors the weft yarn.

Cross-references to related applications An application entitled Weft Yarn Tying Device for Needle Looms will be filed by applicant substantially simultaneously with the present application.

Background of the invention The present invention relates to an improvement of needle looms of the type in which a weft inserting member is mounted on one side of the loom and is first moved to the other side for inserting a weft yarn, and then returned to its initial position after the inserted weft yarn has been anchored on the other side of the fabric by a loop formmg means.

In known needle loops of this type, the weft inserting means and the loop forming means reciprocate in the same plane. When the weft inserting means has arrived at the other side of the fabric, the loop forming means, such as a latch needle, is advanced to cross the weft inserting means so that its hook moves beyond the weft yarn. When the weft inserting means is retracted, the weft yarn is caught by the hook of the latch needle, and while the same is retracted, an anchoring loop is formed. This arrangement requires greatest precision regarding the relative position of the weft inserting means and loop forming means, and the movement of the same, since insufficiently accurate adjustments result in failure of the latch needle to catch the weft yarn, or may result in a collision between the latch needle and the weft inserting means. Such precise adjustment is difiicult to maintain during high speed operations which cause unavoidable vibrations.

In another construction of a needle loom according to the prior art, the weft inserting means performs a composite circular and oscillating motion in a plane which only slightly improves the catching of the weft yarn by the latch needle, but requires a very complicated control arrangement for operating the weft inserting means.

In accordance with another construction, the weft inserting means is reciprocated along a straight path, while the loop forming latch needle is controlled to perform an oscillating or elliptic motion. This arrangement has the disadvantage that due to the transverse and irregular movements of the loop forming latch needle, comparatively large and loose loops are formed.

Summary of the invention It is the object of the invention to overcome these disadvantages of the prior art, and to provide a simple mechanism assuring reliable catching of the weft yarn by the loop forming means.

With these objects in view, the improvements of the invention comprises mounting means for mounting weft in- 3,434,506 Patented Mar. 25, 1969 serting means for reciprocating movement in Weft inserting direction, and also in a direction transverse to the direction of reciprocation, and control means for moving the weft inserting means in a transverse movement when the weft yarn transported by the Weft inserting means crosses the loop forming means so that the weft yarn is moved toward and caught by the loop forming means, and formed by the same into a loop for anchoring the inserted weft yarn.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the loop forming means is a latch needle reciprocated in warp direction along the edge of the fabric, the latch being opened in the advanced end position. The weft inserting means moving from one side of the fabric to the other side has a yarn holding end portion which is located on the other side of the fabric in an advanced end position of the weft inserting means. In this position, the weft yarn extends from the yarn holding end portion to the side of the fabric from which it was inserted into the warp shed, and across the open hook of the latch needle. In this position, control means operate the weft inserting means to perform a transverse motion by which the inserted weft yarn is placed in the open hook of the latch needle so that the same can form a loop of the same whereby the weft yarn is anchored.

The transverse movement of the weft inserting means can be a dipping motion toward the lower level of the plane in which the latch needle reciprocates, or a turning motion which also lowers the weft yarn.

The arrangement of the invention has the advantage that the weft inserting means performs only few simple motions so that the weft yarn is not subjected to high friction and thin weft yarns can be used. The insertion of the weft yarn into the loop forming means is reliably effected, without requiring time consuming and difiicult exact adjustments of the relative position of the loop forming means and weft inserting means. Since the weft inserting means and loop forming means operate in different planes, a collision is impossible. Since the loop forming latch needle performs only short reciprocating strokes since it does not cross the path of the weft inserting means, small anchoring loops are formed. Also, a comparatively short weft inserting means can be used so that vibrations are avoided.

of specific embodiments when read in connection with.

the accompanying drawings.

Brie description 0 the drawing FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating an initial position of an apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating a second position of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating a third position of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating th position of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the position of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the position of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view illustrating control means for the weft inserting means used in the apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary schematic side View of the control means shown in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating a detail of the modified construction of the control means shown in FIG. 7.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 6, a fabric 1, such as a band or ribbon, is woven of warps 3 and 4 and weft yarns inserted by a weft inserting member 11 which has a forked end portion with two prongs 10. A yarn guide, not shown, inserts a Weft yarn 6 in the forked end portion of weft inserting means 11 when the same is in an initial position located on one side of the fabric. At the other side f the fabric, a loop forming latch needle having a hook opened and closed by a latch 12 is reciprocated in warp direction along the edge of the fabric. A reed 2 is reciprocated in the usual manner for beating the inserted Weft yarns into the fell 7 of the fabric after the inserted weft yarn has been anchored by a loop held by the hook 8 and latch 12 of loop forming needle 5, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. Instead of a forked end portion, weft inserting member 11 may be provided with an eye through which the weft yarn 6 passes.

In the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, weft inserting means 11 has advanced toward the other side of the fabric, and loop forming needle '5 has also advanced to an end position. Weft inserting means 11 moves through a warp shed formed rearwardly of reed 2 in the usual manner.

In the position of FIG. 6, the yarn holding end portion 10 of weft inserting means 11 is located on the other side of the warp shed and fabric, and the weft portion 6a extends at an angle to the directions of reciprocation of weft inserting means 11 and of loop forming needle 5 and across the open hook 8 of the loop forming needle. Latch 12 was opened during the forward movement of needle 5 through the old loop 9 of the last insert weft.

In the position of FIG. 6, the weft inserting member is at first still in the position shown in FIG. 2. Weft insering member 11 is now controlled to perform a downward dipping motion to the position shown in FIG. 3 so that weft yarn portion 6a is placed in hook 8. Thereupon, latch needle 5 starts its return stroke toward the left as viewed in the drawing, pulling weft yarn portion 6a toward the old loop 9 which first engages the open latch 12, and then turns the same to the closed position. During further retraction of needle 5 to the position of FIGS. 1 and 4, a loop of weft yarn portion 6a is drawn through the old loop 9, whereupon the latter is cast off and the needle 5 is in the fully retracted end position shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 whereupon reed 2 is operated to beat the newly inserted weft yarn into the fell of the fabric. During the retraction of needle 5, weft inserting means is moved from the fully advanced position shown in FIG. 6 to the initial position shown in FIG. 4.

Instead of causing a dipping motion of weft inserting means 11 for placing the weft yarn in the hook 8 of needle 5, it is also possible to cause a turning motion of weft inserting means 11 about its longitudinal axis of symmetry in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3 so that prong 10a presses weft yarn portion 6a downwardly into the open hook 8 of needle 5, whereupon the above described operation is continued,

FIGS. 7 and 8 show control means for reciprocating weft inserting means 11 across the fabric, and for dipping weft inserting member for insertion of the weft thread into the needle.

A rotary cam drum 13 has a helical track 14 into which a cam follower roller 15 of a prismatic bearing member 16 projects. Member 16 has a bearing in which a shaft 17 is mounted for turning movement, but non-movable in axial direction in relation to member 16. Shaft 17 is mounted in bearings 18 for axial and rotary movement. A lever 23 is secured to one end of shaft 17 and carries weft inserting means 11.

Another lever 19 is also secured to shaft 17 and carries a cam follower roller 20 cooperating with a rotary cam 21 having a cam lug 22 cooperating with cam follower roller 20.

During rotation of cam drum 13, shaft 17 is axially reciprocated together with weft inserting means 11 so that the same moves into and out of the warp sheds, as explained above. This reciprocating motion is carried out in synchronisrrr with the reciprocating motion of loop forming needle 5 which is operated by a rotary cam drum similar to cam drum 13. A shaft 25 is driven from shaft 24 by a chain drive 26, 27, 28, and is mounted in bearlugs 29. Shaft 25 carries a disc 30 with an crank pin 31 engaging a fork 32 secured to the needle 5 which is guided in bearings 33. Due to the rotation of disc 30 with pin 31, needle 5 is moved in reciprocating motion.

Weft inserting means is moved in a forward stroke from the position of FIG. 4 to the position of FIG. 6 while loop forming needle 5 is moved from the retracted position of FIG. 4 to the advanced position of FIG. 6. During this movement, follower roller 20' cooperates with the circular peripheral portion of cam 21, but in the position of FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, cam lug 22 engages roller 20 and turns lever 19 together with shaft 17 and lever 23 so that weft inserting means 11 performs a short downward movement transverse to the direction of its reciprocation for placing the weft yarn 6 in the book 8, as best seen in FIG. 3. Thereupon, loop forming needle 5 and weft inserting means 11 are retracted in return strokes so that the weft yarn portion 6a is caught and pulled through the old loop 9 which first closes latch 12. In this manner a new loop is formed in the position of loop 9 in FIG. 4, and the inserted weft yarn is tied at the edge of the fabric whereupon the reed moves to the position shown in FIG. 4 so that a new warp shed can be formed.

FIG. 9 illustrates a modification in which the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the prongs 10 and of weft inserting means 11 coincides with shaft 17' so that weft inserting means 11 axially projects from the end of shaft 17 Due to the omission of lever 23, weft inserting means does not perform a dipping downward motion as in the embodiment of FIG. 7, when shaft 17' is turned under the control of cam lug 22 by cam follower means 19, 20. Weft inserting means 11 performs an angular movement about its axis so that the prong 10a moves downward and the other prong moves upward, for depressing weft yarn portion 6a in the position of FIG. 6 to move into the open hook 8 as shown in FIG. 3.

Rotary cam 21, 22, cam drum 13, and the cam drum driving the loop forming means 5 are all driven from the main shaft of the loom to operate in timed relation.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of needle looms differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a reciprocating weft inserting means for a needle loom which performs a motion transverse to its reciprocating motion for placing the weft yarn into the hook of a reciprocating latch needle at the edge of the fabric, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a needle loom, in combination, a :weft inserting means reciprocable across the warps of a fabric woven on said loom from one side to the other side of the loom and fabric; loop forming means reeiprocable in warp direction along said other side of the fabric; mounting means for mounting said weft inserting means for reciprocation in weft direction and also for movement in a direction transverse to said weft direction and said warp direction; and operating means including first control means connected with said mounting means for reciprocating said weft inserting means through the warp sheds of said fabric, second control means connected with said mounting means for moving said weft inserting means in a transverse movement, and third control means for reciprocating said loop forming means in warp direction, said operating means operating said second and third control means in a time relation so that weft inserting means is moved in said transverse movement when the weft yarn transported thereby crosses said loop forming means whereby the weft yarn is moved toward and caught by said loop forming means, and formed by the same into a loop for anchoring the weft yarn on said other side of said fabric.

2. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said weft inserting means includes an elongated straight, substantially rigid weft inserting member; wherein said mounting means support said weft inserting member for reciprocation in longitudinal direction thereof; and wherein said second control means move the entire weft inserting member in said transverse movement toward said loop forming means.

3. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting means supports said weft inserting means for reciprocating movement along a path located in a plane located spaced from the path of reciprocation of said loop forming means.

4. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said weft inserting means has a forked end portion for receiving said weft yarn.

5. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said loop forming means is a latch needle having a hook; and wherein said weft inserting means places said weft yarn in the path of said hook during said transverse movement.

6. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting means include a support for said weft inserting means rotatable about an axis and reciprocable in axial direction so that said weft inserting means performs said transverse movement when said support rotates about said axis.

7. The improvement defined in claim 6 wherein said support includes a shaft, and a lever secured to said shaft and carrying said weft inserting means so that the same performs a transverse dipping motion toward said loop forming means when said shaft is rotated.

8. The improvement defined in claim 6 wherein said support includes a shaft mounted for rotation and for axial movement; and wherein said weft inserting means projects in axial direction from one end of said shaft so that said tarnsverse movement is an angular displacement of said weft inserting means.

9. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said operating means reciprocates said loop forming means in warp direction along said other side of said fabric to an advanced end position; wherein said loop forming means is a latch needle having a hook open in said advanced end position; wherein said weft inserting means has a yarn holding end portion, and is reciprocated by said first control means to an advanced end position in which said yarn holding end portion is located at said other side of said fabric, and in which position the weft yarn extending from said yarn holding end portion to said one side of the fabric crosses said open hook; and wherein said second control means moves said Weft inserting means with said yarn holding end portion in said transverse movement toward the region in which said open hook is located so that said weft yarn is placed in said hook and caught by the same during the following return stroke of said latch needle.

10. The improvement defined in claim 9 wherein said yarn holding portion is a forked end portion of said Weft inserting means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,130,636 9/1938 Clutsom 139124.1 2,229,011 1/1941 Clutsom 139--124.1 2,280,478 4/1942 Clutsom 139124.1 2,532,087 11/ 1950 Clutsom 139124.1 2,980,146 4/1961 ONeill 139124.1 3,064,689 11/ 1962 Piazzolla et al 139124.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 18,084 1888 Great Britain.

JAMES KEE CHI, Primary Examiner. 

